#I was in a group of people who were all that way but my power was the most potent and I was taken in for questioning seperately

[midnight-soulless-system]

Oh no, I do. As someone who studied kink, paraphilias, and bdsm I find it important to get all sides of stories, including the ones of those who ended up leaving the scene. Personally what I've found is that while the community was fine, it just wasn't for them.

Of course there's going to be corruption in groups, that's why you only join spaces with people you trust before you engage with kinks.

And yes, substance use happens all the time, again, if you had a shitty experience that sucks. Your experience is not a monolith, which you seem to agree with, and yet you act like it is.

"Not to mention the way that endorphins expressed in intense pain play also can have effects on mental state." This is why you don't engage in extreme kink with someone you don't explicitly trust or without safety measures.

"I talk in a way focused on pain play because that way my main experience. That also seemed the desired experience of most - I did participate in some fire play, bondage, and other forms of sensory play. There were also substantial elements of lifestyle D/s, some both explicitly negotiated and some coerced." If it was coerced than that was just abuse and an abusive person. Whether yall did kinky shit or not that was going to happen, and that sucks.

"Kink prioritizes the needs of the doms by design. This is explicit in the *design* of things like Fetlife, which will always prioritize the needs of creepy old men to leer at and spam teenage girls in their area over the safety of anyone else. After all, we can’t even ban literal sex murderers lest anyone’s free speech be impugned upon." I'm not on fetlife, but of course it can be dangerous. You don't know who people are onlinez that's why it's better to build a kink community irl and why you rarely share your personal information.

"Kink is stigmatized in mainstream society - which means you *can’t speak up about it* too. Kink spaces have such a focus on legally protecting doms that there is no consideration of the safety of subs. Kink cries about how it’s about the needs and desires of subs, in an attempt to keep the ever present “topping from the bottom” conversation from the eyes of outsiders." That's correct, most people shun kink because of the puritan society that most of the world is. That sucks. And yes, kink spaces often have to legally protect doms more because doms are the ones often blamed for what happens, even if it was consensual and everyone was of sound mind. And yes, you can top from the bottom, but I have no idea wtf thag had to do with out conversation right now, and it does in fact often prioritize subs. Most kink spaces I've seen prioritize the safety of subs.

"There should be a consideration of the fact that in all therapeutic spaces I’ve talked about my experiences as a submissive in - the only answer I’ve received is that I need a better dom. I *want* to improve myself as a person, to see my own desires as worth pursuing - but kink positivity as turned this into a cult that I can’t escape." Wrong use of the word cult, but whatever. And yes often the suggestion when you have had a bad dom is to find someone better or to take a break from kink. I don't know why your therapeutic spaces didn't suggest the second part.

"I’m not bothered by weird sex. I’m not a puritan. The problem is that kink communities are havens for dangerous actors, who seem to have a bunch of flying monkeys at their disposal to leap to the defense of shit like 19 year olds letting middle aged men attack their tits with staple guns. Kink recreates patriarchal/misogynistic/age power structures, just with the concession that some can hypothetically cross the line (but the usual male sub/female domme experience is perhaps the one place where “subs hold all the power!” Is true)" Do you just.. not go to queer kink spaces? Also I don't know what kink club is letting in 19 year olds considering the fact that they often allow you a drink or two of alcohol. And yes, of course there is going to be a power structure, one of the biggest parts in kink is dom/sub powerplay, even though that isn't always the case. They aren't always patriarchal and misogynistic though?

"old school leather communities at least had something of apprenticeship/training. one had to experience both sides of the heel. perhaps if the heterosexual but spicy/wanting to be special community had leaned more into *Tom of Finland* than *50 Shades* things might be a little different" Yes, if any kink space is trying to be like 50 shades of grey or even reminds you of that shit, you should run. It's a horrible misrepresentation of kink and is just abusive as fuck. To each their own if they want to read it, but it's not an accurate depiction and those trying to go off of it are going to end up hurt.

it’s funny how kinksters want me to stay quiet about my abuse

my “dom” used to do “no speaking unless spoken to” lol. I’m not shutting up anymore. I’m taking back my power.

I will continue to call out a community that protects abusers. I will continue to call out a community that exploits LGBT people, especially younger transgender people.

The kink “community” is not a community. It is a place to connect predators to prey. If there cannot be frank and honest conversations about abuse and exploitation in kink, then it is not a safe community. It is a community that prioritizes the pleasures of one group over the physical and mental safety of another. It is a community that cannot criticize or police itself - to some folks, kinks appears to serve as some sort of religion.

[gamesetattach]

That One Night

Jannik Sinner x Reader After being introduced at an event, reader and Jannik Sinner seek to resolve their immediate chemistry. They do, it's brief but magnificent. And they're both left wanting more... too bad that's unrealistic... they'd need a miracle for that to happen... Warnings include... steamy scenes, allusion to smut that might as well be smut, minor bike accident

The venue was dazzling, a shimmering blend of opulence and power, brimming with high-profile names from sports, entertainment, and beyond. You’d been to your share of high-stakes events working as a part of Lewis Hamilton's personal staff, but this gala—a celebration of global athletic excellence—was something else. Maybe it was the shift in Hamilton’s career, his dramatic switch to Ferrari drawing attention from every corner of the room. Being in the same space as some of the most impressive figures in the world was never something you could get used to.

You adjusted your drink in your hand, standing among your coworkers, who were animatedly chatting amidst the event’s grandeur. Lewis, ever the charismatic centerpiece of any gathering, stood nearby, surrounded by admirers and journalists. It was then that you noticed him—Jannik Sinner, the tennis prodigy who seemed to be everywhere these days. Tall, composed, and unmistakably confident, he approached Lewis with an easy grace.

“Congratulations on the move to Ferrari,” Jannik said, extending a hand. His tone was warm but earnest, with the kind of deference and understanding that only a fellow, high achieving athlete could channel.

“Hey, man. I'm a big fan of yours,” Lewis replied, during the swift clasp of their hands, his signature grin in place. “And yeah, thank you. It’s been an adjustment, you know how it is. New team, new dynamics.”

Jannik nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a big step, and very exciting. Ferrari’s history speaks for itself, but so does your own.”

“Thanks, mate, appreciate it” Lewis said, kind eyes twinkling, and then turned slightly to gesture toward your group. “By the way, these are some of the people who make my life run smoothly.”

Lewis introduced everyone by name, and when he got to you, Jannik’s gaze lingered just a fraction longer than it had with the others.

“Nice to meet you all,” he said, offering a polite smile to the team, though he was angled towards you as he did.

“Likewise,” you chimed in along with the other greetings of your group, eyes flicking up and down his tall stature with an obvious spark of interest. You smiled into your drink when you saw he noted your appraisal with a quiet smirk to himself.

---

The group conversation that followed was lively, filled with laughter and the kind of lighthearted banter that couldn't be faked. It wasn't uncommon for nights like this one to be filled with forced niceties and social obligation, but you found yourself surrounded by genuine company throughout the night for once. Jannik withstood the camaraderie of you and your team's established dynamic well, easily following the quick back and forth that bounced between your co-workers. Your own insertions in the conversation earned more than a few chuckles from his direction, and you found yourself meeting his eyes first at every instance of laughter. He wasn’t the loudest in the group by any means, but his subtle wit, dry humor, and ability to hold his own didn’t go unnoticed—especially not by you.

At one point, Jannik leaned slightly toward you after you’d made a particularly sharp and clever comment that had your co-workers open-mouthed with shock before they keeled over with laughter. “Do you always keep everyone on their toes, or are you just on a mission tonight?”

You grinned, meeting his gaze. “I mean, it depends on the company.”

His small smile widened just enough to feel like a win.

---

Hours later, as the event began to wind down, you and your team decided to head back to the hotel before the night got stale. It seemed everyone had the same idea.

The lobby was bustling with other guests from the gala, all waiting for the elevators in their shared hospitality. You stood near the back of the group, watching as people crammed into the small space. Jannik appeared beside you, his own team just slightly ahead.

“Looks like we’re not getting on this one,” he remarked as the doors closed, the elevator packed to it's maximum volume.

“Probably for the best,” you replied. “I’m not sure I have any social capacity left for that level of crowding.”

He chuckled, his relaxed demeanor infectious. “Guess we can only hope the next one is less full.”

Only a few others joined you in waiting for the second lift, and you and Jannik fell into easy, hushed conversation. The elevator dinged and opened, and you filed in first with Jannik's gentle hand on your lower back. He positioned himself next to you in the corner, allowing space for the others, his shoulders square to your own with your hip brushing at his leg. You stood in silence now, sharing the small space with guests before, one by one, they exited on the lower floors and left you and Jannik alone.

The silence persisted despite the clearing of others and grew to fill the air as something comfortable, but palpable. It felt hopeful, expectant—like maybe the tension that built naturally between you both through the night was about to be expended somehow. Like maybe something would amount from your hyper-aware orbit of each other that started within your short time of meeting.

You realized you were standing closer to him than necessary, still where you first positioned yourselves to accommodate the now-departed crowd. His arm brushed yours as the elevator ascended, and neither of you moved away, the small space between you unchallenged but charged.

When the elevator dinged once more, you glanced up, startled to see your floor already on the display.

“This is me,” you said, stepping away from the rail, and you saw this floor was the last one pressed on the array of numbers, "Oh, are you on this level, too?"

He shook his head, his gaze heavy-lidded and steady on you. "Must've missed mine."

He didn’t move to press his floor, and the doors began to close again.

You hesitated as you stepped through them, then looked back at him. “Why don't you come back to my room instead.”

The invitation hung in the air, sounding bolder in the silence than you intended, but you held off on regret as you waited for a response. Jannik’s eyes searched yours, something stirring beneath his usual, cool reserve.

“Lead the way,” he said.

---

The walk to your room was quiet, the tension building with every step. When you finally opened the door and stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The casual banter of earlier was gone, replaced by an unspoken understanding that neither of you felt the need to question.

“Nice place,” he said as he entered your hotel room, voice low, but he had barely glanced around. His eyes stayed trailing after your every movement.

“Thanks,” you replied, closing the door behind you. “Picked the decor out myself and everything.”

You turned to face him, his expression unreadable but his eyes giving him away. Slowly, he stepped closer, the gap between you shrinking until there was almostnone left at all.

And then it happened.

There was no formality, no careful consideration—just heat, just urgency. His lips were on yours, and it wasn’t soft or timid, like he’d been waiting all night for this moment. It was hungry, a breaking point neither of you had time to speak into existence but one that you both had felt coming all along.

His hands found your waist, fingers curling into fabric as if anchoring himself. You tilted your head, deepening the kiss, pressing closer, the moment swallowing you whole. The air buzzed between you, your heart hammering against your ribs, every touch igniting something more.

Somewhere in the haze, he pulled off his blazer and you tugged at his shirt, needing him closer, needing something solid to hold onto as your back hit the door. His breath was ragged when he finally pulled away, but only for a moment before his lips found the curve of your jaw, then lower, pressing slow, deliberate kisses to your skin.

He exhaled against you, voice hushed, breath uneven. You felt the sharp edges of restraint still present, the weight of something unspoken.

Then, your fingers slid into his hair, tugging lightly, and any hesitation that remained between you unraveled completely.

His hands, warm and steady, moved over your back, pulling you off the door and fully against him, as if closing the last bit of space that existed between you. His mouth found yours again, slower this time, and deeper, as if savoring the impermanence of it all.

When he finally pulled away again, his forehead pressed to yours as you both caught your breath. There were no whispered questions, no reassurances about what this meant.

Because it didn’t have to mean anything, and it didn't—at least, not yet.

So, your hand found his, fingers lacing together in a silent understanding.

And when you moved, guiding him to the bed, he followed without a second thought.

Faintly you heard the late night gusts and the rush of cars, a window left open, air cool and crisp, but the heat between you was unmistakable. The time stilled, no urgency or expectation left, only the slow unraveling of barriers that had been introduced already half-torn down. His hands moved over you with intent, like he was memorizing the feeling of you, the weight, the warmth, the way you shivered at the smallest touch.

You found yourself laughing softly against his lips at one point, the absurdity of it all—this place, this timing, such need after only one introduction. Jannik smiled too, a sweet one, and he moved his face from yours to nudge into your neck.

And then, just as quickly, the laughter faded, overtaken by something heavier, deeper. You pulled him back up to you, fingers dragging over bare skin, every inch of space between you erased until nothing else existed but this.

No past, no future.

Just here. Just now.

---

You didn’t sleep much. Not that night.

Every time your breathing leveled, every time the air settled between you, Jannik would shift closer again, fingertips tracing slow, aimless patterns along your skin, reigniting the heat that neither of you could seem to temper.

The sheets were tangled between your legs, the warmth of his body wrapping around you, the weight of his hand pressing against the small of your back, grounding you. His lips found the space beneath your jaw, lingering for a moment before trailing downward once more, his breath a quiet whisper against your skin.

His touch was exploratory, desperate, as if learning something new that he only had limited time to perfect. The slow drag of his fingers, the way he murmured your name against your collarbone, sent shivers up your spine.

What started so quick had become slow and unhurried as the night went on—a mutual unraveling, an indulgence in something spontaneous and momentary. Each kiss, each sigh, each press of fingers and hands and lips savoring all that was fleeting.

He wasn’t in a rush. Neither were you.

One night could be enough.

---

When you awoke late into the next morning, the sun streaming through the curtains, Jannik was already up and in his suit from the night before, sitting on the edge of the bed as he laced up his shoes. He glanced back when he noticed you stirring.

“Morning,” he said, his tone soft but steady.

“Morning,” you replied, your voice still heavy with sleep.

There was a beat of silence before he added, “Last night was… unexpected.”

You sat up, pulling the sheets around you. “But, was it really though?”

He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “No, maybe not.”

As he stood, you watched him hesitate, his hand resting on the back of a chair. “You mentioned last night that you’re only here for the event. How long are you in the area?”

“Not long at all,” you admitted. “This was just a short work trip. I’m based in London, so I’ll be heading back after today.”

He nodded, absorbing the information. “London… that’s not too far.”

You smiled faintly, flattered at his effort to pretend and humor this. “I guess. Not if you’re motivated.”

His lips curved into a subtle grin. You both knew what this was, this was goodbye. “See you around, maybe?”

“Yeah, maybe,” you replied, trying to keep your heart from fluttering and latching onto the few, unlikely possibilities packed into that single word.

He held your gaze for a moment longer before turning toward the door, he called your name out once more. “Take care.”

“You too, Jannik,” you said softly as he walked out, leaving behind a room that suddenly felt much quieter—and a connection you couldn’t quite shake.

---

The Italian countryside was like something out of a painting, with rolling hills, ancient stone buildings, and skies so blue they almost seemed unreal. You’d been traveling from town to town for weeks now, helping Lewis Hamilton’s team gather material for his upcoming launch into first season with Ferrari. As his creative director, your role was to define the visual identity of this new chapter in Lewis’s career—a challenge you decided to cover by making a series inspired by the unique range of beauty offered by the Italian landscapes. And so, you'd immersed yourself amongst the Italian people up and down the country.

Today’s destination was a small, picturesque town tucked away in the Dolomites and bordered by Austria. You hadn’t thought much more of it as you packed your camera and sketchbook that morning, already suspended in awe by the setting during your arrival the night before, but as you wandered its sloped streets, you began to notice something: Jannik's face was absolutely everywhere.

It wasn’t unusual to see Italy's favorite tennis player and the World No. 1 featured in promotional materials across the country, but this was different. There were even posters of him at the local cafés, a mural depicting his likeness near the town square, and framed photos of his visits at every place you checked out for lunch. The ghost of him and that one night was already haunting you throughout Italy, but now it especially felt like the universe was conspiring against you.

You sighed into your espresso, thinking back to your brief but memorable encounter with him months ago. You often needed to remind yourself that it was just a one-time thing, a spontaneous meeting that would never align again. But apparently, Italy—and your own mind—wanted to encourage delusion.

Curious, you asked the barista about the abundance of Jannik’s imagery.

“Oh, he’s from here,” she said in accented English, beaming with pride. “Jannik is our treasure.”

Your stomach flipped. Of course, he was from here. You’d managed to land yourself in his birthplace without even realizing it. It was probably only a matter of time, but, even in all the time you spent trying and failing not to think of him, you hadn't really considered that you'd end up in his hometown sometime during your extensive travels of his country. Figuring he was off on tour or training somewhere far away, you tried to push the thought aside and focus on your work. You'd long since persuaded yourself to accept that you were unlikely to see him again. Still, as you moved through the scenic countryside that afternoon, your mind kept drifting to the idea of what it would be like to be in a place like this with him. The daydream felt too perfect, too impossible to entertain for long.

You don't actually know him, you reminded yourself.

---

Later that day, while riding your bike down a quiet rural road, you were so taken by the stunning view that you didn’t notice the dip ahead. Your front wheel went in and caught, sending you flying forward. You landed awkwardly, your camera bag cushioning some of the impact but your ankle was angled and throbbing.

“Oh, are you okay?” a voice called out in accented English.

You looked up to see a middle-aged woman rushing toward you from her car, concern etched on her face. She helped you sit up, clicking her tongue as she inspected foot.

“That hole gets everyone,” she said with a shake of her head. “You’re not the first.”

You couldn’t help but laugh despite the sting as you shifted. “Good to know I’m not alone.”

“My name is Siglinde,” she said, smiling warmly. “You?”

You replied with your name, wincing as she helped you up to your feet. “Thanks for stopping to help.”

Through a mix of your patchy Italian and German, and her limited English, you managed to explain that you were in town for work and researching the area as you walked your bike back to town beside her. Even before your mention of Italy's revered Ferrari, Siglinde had lit up about your project, insisting that she knew the best places to see.

“I live here my whole life,” she said proudly. “I show you the real town.”

---

Over the next few days, you and Siglinde struck up an unlikely, but fast friendship. She took you to local spots that weren’t in any guidebooks—a secluded meadow, a historic church, a family-run lodge. She spoke often of her family, particularly her children, whom she described as hardworking and kind.

“You would like him,” she said one afternoon after telling another story about her youngest son, as you walked through the market together. “You both work so hard. And you are very pretty.”

You smiled and humored her, brushing off the compliment. It was one of many not so subtle hints letting on that she thought you'd be good for her son. “I’m sure he’s great.”

“He is,” she insisted. “Handsome too! And such a good boy. Too busy for girlfriends, though. But maybe you can change that?”

“Siglinde!” you said, laughing at her persistance.

She grinned. “Just saying! You are a good match.”

Another time, as you hiked through the countryside with her, she pointed out landmarks and told stories about her family. “The boys loves this area,” she said wistfully. “My youngest, he is away so much, but when he comes home, he loves to be where not much has changed. He misses it here, you know.” She glanced at you, her eyes twinkling. “I think you would understand him. He needs someone who understands.”

You weren’t sure how to respond, so you just smiled and let her words hang in the air.

---

After about a week in town, Siglinde invited you to dinner at her home one evening. She insisted it would be a proper South Tyrolean meal, made by her husband, Johann, a long-time chef. You couldn’t say no to her, especially not to such an enticing offer.

When you arrived, Siglinde greeted you at the door, her face alight with excitement. “Come, come! Johann is still in kitchen. But my son, he is home! You will meet him.”

You smiled politely, stepping inside and handing her flowers you got from the market before she led you through the cozy house. She disappeared into the kitchen to find a vase, leaving you to admire the family photos lining the walls.

You did a double take at a small framed photo of a little boy obscured in snow, and you stepped forward to inspect closer. Smile wide and trophy lifted high, your heart rate picked up as you took in the pictured boy's toothy smile and the flash of long, orange hair peaking out of his helmet.

---

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Siglinde was speaking in rushed German to Jannik as she filled a vase. “The girl I invited tonight,” she began, her tone conspiratorial. “She is so nice! Hardworking, smart, and very pretty. Perfect for you.”

Jannik, used to his mother’s matchmaking, rolled his eyes with a smile. “Mama, you said on the phone already. Many times.”

“You must see,” Siglinde insisted. “You will see. She is special.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” he replied lightheartedly. “At least your English will improve with someone to practice with around.”

---

Before long, Siglinde reappeared to usher you into the dining room. She had found you at the height of your disbelief, mouth still agape at the picture of Jannik on your new, kind friend's mantle.

At least now you know what's coming, you thought to yourself as you sat down at the dinner table, barely registering the beautifully prepared food plated in front of you.

You felt him enter the room before you saw him.

Jannik appeared in the doorway beside you and immediately stilled, recognizing the tilt of your head and the curls of your hair from just the one night spent together.

“Ah, you meet!” his mother exclaimed as she moved past him carrying a steaming bowl of soup into the room, leaving him behind in his state of shock that was now slowly morphing into one pleasant surprise and amusement.

You had turned to face his direction at Siglinde's entrance, and your eyes immediately found his. You couldn't help the slow smile that grew on your face in time with his.

He said your name softly, voice warm, tone incredulous. You took in a sharp breath, you didn't think you'd ever hear your name from his mouth again.

“Jannik,” you greeted, struggling to find any words to follow.

“Ah, you already know each other?” Siglinde beamed, eyes darting between the two of you with a knowing look. “...Perfect! Dinner will be even better!”

---

The meal was a whirlwind of flavors and conversation, with Siglinde and Johann enthusiastically sharing stories and dishes. You and Jannik tried to act natural, normal, but your time together flashed behind your eyes each time you looked over at him. And you had trouble focusing on top of processing the serendipity of this unexpected reunion between the two of you.

Every so often, your eyes would meet across the table, and you’d both look away, trying to suppress smiles. You knew what he was thinking, and you were sure he knew you were thinking the same.

After dinner, Siglinde all but pushed the two of you toward the door. “Take a walk! Show her the stars, Jannik. It is a beautiful night.”

“Mama, I—”

“Go!” she insisted, shooing you both outside.

The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the warmth of the house. You walked in silence for a while, your first time alone in the night. Your first time alone in months, though the last time was the first time as well, you supposed.

Jannik let out a soft laugh, and broke you out of your thoughts.

“I can’t believe this,” he said, shaking his head. “Of all the places, of all the people my mother adopts…”

“I know,” you said, smiling. “She's amazing, by the way. She helped me after I was thrown off my bike.”

He raised an eyebrow, chuckling a little. “You were thrown off your bike?”

“It’s not funny,” you said, laughing despite yourself. “There was this ditch and—Apparently, it gets everyone, okay?”

He laughed again, his gaze soft on you. “I’m glad she found you. And I’m glad we… ran into each other again.”

You stopped walking, turning to face him. “Me too.”

For a moment, the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Then, with a smile that made your heart stutter, Jannik asked, “What are your plans tomorrow?"

“Just spending more time around here,” you said.

“Good,” he replied. "Then maybe I can show you around... because I’d like to get to know you properly."

"I mean, you were pretty thorough the last time we met." You said, and he smirked at that and looked down at his feet. You continued, voice a little softer, "But yeah, I'd like that."

He smiled, nodding a little to himself, and as you continued down the moonlit path in the mountains, you let your pinkies brush against each other. Because you both knew, that one night was always meant to be the first of many.

---

And sometimes a one-night stand sticks with you and you have to like fucking exorcise it out and that's my truth. But not reader's, fortunately. Okay, steamiest one yet, hope you like xx

[ari16bri]

Political essay no one asked for from a white, middle class working mom with no qualifications.

Spoiler alert: I'm a socialist.

I was having a conversation with my left-leaning centrist father today. He was asking lots of questions, which he often does. He wants to understand everything, and he wants to have all the information possible so as to avoid alarmist narratives and unnecessary panic. It's a good way to live, in theory.

In my opinion, I told him, the grace that you afford certain groups in late-stage capitalism will be, and currently is being, used against you and your loved ones. When you ask the question, "but why would they want to ban transgender people if they didn't think they were a danger to society," "but why would they want to ban abortions federally if it will cause the deaths of women and children, if they don't truly see it as murder," "but why would they send undocumented migrants to concentration camps?"

My response was as follows.

"Because they are Nazis."

He doesn't like that response. He is concerned that it's drastic, not logical. And, in theory, it's not logical. He says he knows Nazis have existed before, so it makes sense that they would exist again at some point, but are the people in the American government Nazis? Really?"

I told him, very simply, "yes."

I believe that in a society like the one we exist in today, we all have our roles to play. All of them have their place in fascism. Fascists know that each of these roles exist, and they plan for each of them.

I think a very large percentage of American adults fall into the "uninformed" group. There are malicious uninformed individuals, and there are benign (in itself is malicious) uninformed individuals. There are also both sides of the "informed" group. Unlike the uninformed individuals, there also exists "progressive" informed individuals.

Today I posted on my facebook page,

"When capitalism destabilizes, fascists take over to protect their assets, à la oligarchy."

Unsurprisingly, I got a comment from someone I thought was a benign uninformed individual. Their comment was, "is this referring to the 150 year old people collecting SSI benefits?"

Now, obviously, she is a victim of disinformation.

But, that's not benign. That's malicious. That is her part to play in this fascist downspiral. It's a vital part to play, and they are counting on her to continue doing it. It's unfortunate, and perhaps she will live long enough to be able to regret the part she is playing, but she may also not even be capable of realizing it when it's all said and done.

My coworker couldn't give a shit about politics if she watched someone martyred in the street in front of her. Another vital part being played in favor of fascism, right there. "Benign" uninformed individuals who don't think any of this is "that deep," or they think it's funny, and want to see the world burn because they don't care about anything or anyone. They're not actively fighting the progressive cause, but the fascists don't need them to. They're perfectly content with them staying silent.

Silence = consent, in this case (and in this case only).

Back to my lovely father. I told him that part of understanding and adapting to this new society is to recognize that this society is new to us. It has been brewing under the surface for decades (and then some), yes, but it is quite literally the definition of a capitalistic society in collapse.

What happens when capitalism collapses?

Nazis.

He says he can't wrap his mind around the evil it takes to be that. He says, logically, he knows billionaires exist on the backs of wage workers (and, historically, slaves) and that there is essentially no moral way to be that rich, but how (HOW) could their goal to be even richer? How can the world's most rich and powerful want to be even more rich and more powerful?

I said, "because it is what it is."

Fascists want power and they want money.

They want women to get married and have babies and they want the mommies to read the Bible to the babies before bed every night so those babies grow up to be afraid of Hell and go to work and be good members of society, and buy shit, and get married, and have babies.

I said, "you think Trump gives a shit about babies? You think he believes in Jesus, or gives a shit what Jesus would do? He gives a shit about not going to prison. He wants money. He wants power. Elon, too. That's what Project 2025 is all about. It's not alarmist. It is happening. It's happening right in front of us."

The thing is, as of right now, he is playing his part in the fascist downspiral, too. He is grappling with the reality that the world truly is as insecure as our wildest nightmares, and the likelihood of greed to take control has always been there. It's not easy to grasp. We aren't meant to grasp that concept. We are also not meant to be paying to eat and shit and sleep.

We are living in a society and on an economy that is meant to collapse. That's why it happens time and again. We just happen to be living in the period of time that it's collapsing.

My dad is a good person. He is also a non-conformist. He doesn't want to be told what to do. He's an ally in all senses of the word. He just, unfortunately, is playing a part in their game; giving fascists the benefit of the doubt in hopes that no one can be that evil. But they are. And they're here. And it sucks.

In the 'market place of ideas' it is imperative, quite literally by definition, to exclude fucking fascism from the list of options worth considering. Fascism succeeding removes the 'market place of ideas,' and allowing it to be a fucking option will be the downfall of society.

I can't go to jail, I can't lose my kids, I can't do anything rash. Maybe it would be different if I had nothing to lose. So, my part to play is to be informed. I choose not to conform. I listen to my shitty punk music, and I dye my hair blue and purple, and I pierce my face, and I correct people who are saying stupid shit, and I political-post on facebook to piss my (maliciously informed) grandparents off, and I won't stop.

I was raised an anarchist by both parents. I have the privilege to be an anarchist with a lower likelihood of persecution because of my appearance and generational wealth (though I don't have direct, immediate access to it).

Now, imagine I didn't have rich white grandparents to help me buy my house and pay for my phone, or bail me out of jail if it came to that? Imagine I wasn't white and the trauma that is 'what has the world come to,' wasn't new to me? Imagine being black and knowing this was the case from the beginning- being afraid of cops, instead of actively rebelling them? Imagine I didn't have the privilege to talk back to cops when they stop me for stupid shit, or go out of my way to be loudly non-conformist for fear of being singled out and potentially hurt?

Lord, imagine knowing all of this to be true from the beginning only to be told by everyone with a shred of power in this country that I am over reacting, playing the victim, or that it is actually me who is ruining society, simply by existing?

If my white, wealthy conservative family members are playing the parts of the maliciously uninformed and maliciously informed, what part are those in higher risk communities playing? Cannon fodder? Trans people are in danger, actively. Anyone with a skin tone darker than peach is, too. That's been the case. But the danger has ramped up significantly, and we all see it. Anyone who is playing a part against the fascists, at least.

Those are my thoughts.

ACAB. BLM. Trans rights are human rights. Abortion is health care. Health care should be free.

FUCK Trump. FUCK Elon. FUCK fascists.

[gx-gameon]

So I have yugioh duel monsters on as I’m working on a project and I just watched the episode where Yugi’s millennium puzzle is stolen and the warehouse fire occurs.

And you know I love an au….

Say Yugi inhaled too much smoke. He finishes the puzzle and then passes out like in cannon. Joey and Tristian come and save him from the fire, but Yugi doesn’t wake up.

He’s not dead but he is in a coma.

The gang tries everything to wake him up. Even putting the puzzle around his neck to see if the spirit can reach out to him. But he’s so far in his own head that even Yami can’t reach him.

The group is devastated.

Teá is heartbroken over the loss of her friend. She visits him often in the hospital and tries to talk to him. But she doesn’t know what to do.

Tristan’s angry. He’s angry at Bandit Keith and wants him brought to justice. He’s angry at the puzzle spirit for starting this whole mess in the first place. He’s angry at himself for not getting there sooner. He’s trying to cope by getting the authorities to look for Keith.

Joey is a mixture of both. Yugi believed in him. A no good street punk. Because of Yugi’s friendship he’s gone from a directionless kid to one of the world’s best Duel Monsters players. His sister’s surfer was paid for by Yugi (his prize money but same thing) he can’t let Yugi go.

He’s at the hospital every day, talking to Yugi. Telling him about the new games coming out, new duel monsters cards and news, how Dungeon Dice is selling. Anything he thinks Yugi would be interested in. He tell him about their friends and how they are struggling. He always ends by begging his friend to wake up. He’s even started talking to the puzzle begging the spirit to wake Yugi up.

Then the Egyptian exhibit comes to town. Ishizu seeks them out. She knows something horrible has happened to Yugi. She arrives at the hospital and tells them about the rare hunters, how they were the ones controlling Keith. How they are after the Millennium Puzzle.

Tristian’s about ready to throw it at them so that no one else in the group gets hurt. Joey disagrees as Yugi wouldn’t let go of the puzzle in a burning building he’d never want them to give it to a crazy cult. Teá’s with Joey.

Ishizu then reveals that the leader of the Rare hunters, Marik, has the Millenium Rod. It has the power to control and warp minds and might be able to find Yugi’s consciousness and bring it back into control of his body.

That’s all the group needs to hear. They are beating these rare hunters. And wouldn’t you know it, the hunters are coming to them thanks to Kaiba’s tournament.

Now questions that need answered.

The millennium puzzle can’t stay at the hospital, it’s way too easy to steal. Does Yami

1) possess Yugi’s body and help that way.

I don’t think so because he’s cripple with guilt that Yugi is so badly hurt. He can’t find Yugi’s soul any more. He knows Yugi isn’t dead but the damage has locked Yugi away. He’s spent all this time desperately looking for Yugi’s soul.

I don’t think he would take over the body. His own guilt would prevent him from putting Yugi (who’s still in there some where) in any more danger. Yugi’s body is also reviving from the fire still.

2) on of the other members of the group takes up the Puzzle.

My money is on Joey. He’s the other duelist in the group and has the best shot of winning.

I don’t think Yami will take control the same way he does with Yugi. He and Joey aren’t that close. But he eventually can talk to Joey.

This leads to a battle city with Joey as the leading man.

Maybe he wins the first duel on his own.

But the second is against a rare hunter (he misses the alley way encounter because he was already at the hospital for Yugi.) during this duel he’s full of rage. These are the people who hurt Yugi. He’s losing because he’s making basic mistakes in his anger. This is the first time Yami makes contact with Joey.

Together they defeat the rare hunter. Their team work isn’t as good as Yugi and Yami but it will do. They are both completely committed to getting reel fence for Yugi as well as finding a way to wake him. The pharaohs memories are a secondary goal. Nothing matters more than Yugi.

As the tournament goes on they still pick up Slifer. This infuriates Marik because Joey has no connection to Egypt. He’s just some dude who’s wear a Millenium object that doesn’t belong to him. Even if Marik beats Joey he can’t claim the puzzle. He has to beat Yugi.

Now the question is how far does this go. I have two ways this could end.

1) Joey goes all the way to the finals. In his first battle with Ra and Odion he gets struck by lighting. Yami tries to shield him and it works a bit but Joey still has a moment of unconsciousness. Instead of seeing all his friends, he sees Yugi. The real Yugi. Yugi thanks him for all that he’s done. Yugi explains that he almost died in the fire the puzzle took his soul and locked it away. The door didn’t unlock until it was flooded with Ra’s power.

Yugi’s soul will return to his body when the puzzle does. Meaning that for the rest of battle city Yugi and Yami are standing with Joey as the three face Marik together.

Or

2) Marik takes over Yugi’s body for the pier duel.

After Joey gets Slifer he gets a call that Yugi is missing from the hospital. Mario’s puppet mocks him asking why the guard dog wasn’t guarding his friend.

When Joey arrives at the pier he’s faced with a brainwashed Yugi. After all “it’s so easy to control a body that doesn’t have a soul”

Joey and Yami work together to try and snap Yugi out of it. It works and Yugi is back. Allowing Yugi and Joey to head to the battle city finals together.

[transgenderer]

@ishparpuaqib said:

didn't hindus do this under muslim rule as well? claim to be one of the people of the book? i'm speaking out of my sphincter, idk anything abt india. but i do remember reading abt it /somewhere/... and there's bali for a modern example of this exact sort of thing

so the thing is, it seems like the mughals were meaningfully *less* dicks about it than the british.

Eventually, the monistic view of the universal brahman turned itself inside out to generate another sort of universalism: it argued not only that all physical and immaterial things were one, but that all religions were essentially the same, or, as it were, one— that Muslims and Christians really worshipped the same god that Hindus worshipped, but just called him Allah or Christ. (An early seed of this belief may be seen in Krishna’s much-quoted line from the Bhagavad Gita [9.13]: ‘Even those who are devotees of other gods and sacrifice to them with faith, they too worship me,’ though those who quote this line often fail to cite the final clause: ‘— but in the wrong way.’) This idea took on new meaning and power in twelfth-century India, when Sufism (a mystical form of Islam) proclaimed that Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians (called Parsis in India) and Hindus were all striving towards the same goal and that the outward observances that kept them apart were false. Such a move had obvious political motives, of course, in a country where interreligious tensions were already in evidence, but it also expressed a genuine mystic view of universalism.

The Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605) sponsored religious debates between different Muslim groups (Sunni, Shia and Ismaili, as well as Sufis), Parsis, Hindus (devotees of Shiva and of Vishnu), Sikhs, Jains, Jews, Jesuits and Materialists, but he was particularly partial to Sufism. He proclaimed that ‘the wisdom of Vedanta is the wisdom of Sufism’, 8 thus further universalizing the two great universalizing religions by equating (which is to say universalizing) them. The Jesuits misunderstood his pluralism and thought they had converted him; they sent joyous messages back to Rome: the emperor of India has become a Christian! But then, alas, they saw him going into a mosque. Horrified, they asked him, was he not a Christian? Of course, he said; but I’m also a Muslim. He could encompass them, but they could not encompass him.

but also i think she's mentioned that she doesnt know the mughal period that well, because her knowledge of indian history is like 90% through a philological lens

anyway, i think the presence of the sufis made islam's interaction with hinduism much more chill than the anglicans interaction with hinduism (now if the catholics had conquered india...interesting syncretism could have happened)

the anglophone scholarship on akhenaten has this really irritating tendency to depict monotheism as like, an "intellectual advance" akhenaten made. instead of like. a value-neutral shift. i need to be reading japanese scholarship on akhenaten. or indian, altho they have a monotheizing streak, esp in the upper echelons of society

[moonlightsmile]

Hold on I thought of something crazy and I don’t even know how it came to my mind but hear me out.

Imagine that in an alternative universe, Wizards and witches with Green eyes are so fucking rare cause they have some special magic that make someone immortal and exceptionally powerful.

And these eyes are not inherited, they randomly come to some Wizards and Witches.

Lily’s original eyes were light brown, and when she she was 17 (Sixth year) they changed into green, she became so good with her magical powers, stronger, faster, was able to do wandless and wordless spells so easily and many students in Hogwarts targeted her for her abilities.

She was terribly abused, verbally, physically, mentally, and even sexually, cause they thought that these eyes work just like wands, when the holder loses, the authority will transfer to the winner.

Hogwarts here isn’t that safe space we all know, Dumbledore is dark and Professors didn’t care when Lily asked for their help.

James Potter -who had the biggest crush on her- found himself protecting her by bullying all the students who were (or will) target her.

Sirius Black -who does everything for James, but also he knew that even his family is after her- sided with James, protected her with all costs

Remus Lupin -who hated how Lily was treated after getting something she didn’t ask for and even if it’s not like his case, he still related to her- protected her by being with her and Marlene and Mary all the time, he was good with protecting charms so he always repelled spells that were thrown at them.

Peter Pettigrew -who does everything his friends do, but also doesn’t like the idea of Lily getting attacked- helped with pranks and didn’t sit down while seeing everyone look at Lily with Prying eyes.

And of course Hogwarts was splitted into

people who were Protecting Lily

People who were attacking her

And people who did neither

Lily decided to come back to Hogwarts for her last year cause if she doesn’t, she won’t have a job in the future in neither the Magical world or the Muggle world

Then they Graduated, Voldemort knows about Lily but he doesn’t really give a shit about her cause what a Mudblood can do to him?

But then Harry was born, and with him came the Prophecy. And Voldemort decided to kill both the child and his mother.

Wizards who wanted to end the war with Lily being protected from a group called “Order Of The Doe Rebels” (included the Marauders, Mary, Marls, Prewetts, Alice and Frank, and many people who knew Lily personally) (Snape will not be part of it but he will be their spy and only James and Lily knows that)

While Order Of The Phoenix didn’t mind using Lily in the sake of ending the war.

-

Sirius suspected Remus to be the spy because he thought that Remus decided to side up with Voldy so he can use the powers to heal from his Lycanthropy (cause Voldy of course told him that he know a way to extract the eyes or something like that.

-

The night of Oct. 31, after Voldemort killed James and was in his way to kill Harry and kidnap Lily (cause Avada can’t kill her) however, Lily’s desire to protect her son made her somehow able to tranfer the eyes to Harry when Voldemort was casting the spell on him, that caused Harry to reverse the spell and kill Voldy, but Lily sacrificed her life by giving Harry her eyes.

-

Sirius wouldn’t go to Azkaban and he will take Harry and run away, he’d only send a Patronus to Remus, begging for his forgiveness and asking him to help him protecting Harry.

The Doe Rebels won’t be dissociated, the war is still on cause now, the doe is Harry, and they will protect him by keeping people away from him and from Sirius and Remus.

-

It’s kinda messy but I thought it would be so fucking great this way.

[edwinisms]

I know how it sounds at first, but I really gotta feel bad for the boys that sacrificed edwin; I mean even the term “sacrificed edwin” paints them in a more sinister light than they really deserve– considering that wasn’t really, actually their intention.

they were bullies, they were homophobic (and/or were self loathing gay boys themselves taking it out on edwin, or were equally likely peer pressured into acting a certain way), they planned something stupid and mean to do to an innocent, anxious boy with the goal of scaring the shit out of him, all because he was effeminate and an easy target. but they didn’t know or expect any of the ritual stuff to be real. they were all laughing and joking during the ritual because it was just that to them– a joke. a cruel joke, but a joke.

teenagers can be mean and stupid and they usually regret it as adults and grow out of it / grow from it. they were stifled the chance to grow out of it, at least while alive. none of those boys deserved to be instakilled and sent to hell; they’re really not that much less deserving than edwin himself. they were all just kids, after all.

[thegreatyin]

to put a long story short: at the end of ffxiv's base game, literally Directly before the beginning of its first expansion (heavensward), there is a series of quests and story arcs that eventually snowball into an hour-long cutscene in which the entire thing comes to a head in the literal worst way possible. like, "the hero's plans all go horribly wrong and several major characters die onscreen, with others going missing (presumed dead), eventually culminating in the player character being framed for the murder of the leader of a nation-state and being Literally Forced To Flee The Country" wrong.

heavensward leads directly on from this plotline. you arrive at the major location of the expansion in the midst of seeking asylum whilst being a wanted criminal everywhere else in the world right now. it's like. A Whole Thing. the game makes such a big deal out of it all. the fandom does as well. and for good reason!! it's a really good moment!!!!!!

and then roughly 1/3rds of the way into heavensward you find out that literally none of it mattered. nobody important actually died, no changes were actually made to the status quo, and nothing comes of being literally kicked out of the country for (what is implied to be) several in-universe weeks, if not months. None Of It Mattered. None.

TLDR; the bloody banquet is a major, exciting, and very infamous twist that seems like it's going to segway into a MAJOR upheaval of the status quo and some really intriguing ramifications for the story as a whole... and then heavensward does away with literally all of that and practically writes the entire thing off as a waste of time.

you may be able to see why i'm so salty about it.

[old-school-butch]

Firstly, I have no idea who Jennifer Bilek is.

As for witchytakes takes:

Do trans activists made people conservative? Well, my point is that left and right ideologues try to persuade the general public about who to support, and some ideas get traction more than others. When the left handed so much power to trans activists to make extensive legal changes in a very top down way, and bent major government institutions to trans activists demands, the general public didn't like seeing men in women's prisons, men in girl's sports, men in women's washrooms and changerooms and so on. And trans activists quickly got control of media platforms to that no dissent was tolerated, no discussion allowed - but the general public is not behind these moves. You can cancel and harass and call us terfs and send the police after feminists all you want but you're not winning anyone's hearts and minds by being suck a bunch of dicks. Regular, everyday people have their doubts and concerns and the left didn't listen to anyone except trans activists. So more people threw their support behind the group that make sense - which is conservative.

Human rights conflict all the time between different groups - we have to weigh freedom of speech, religious views and much more all the time. You can support human rights and also see that they have limits when they start to interfere with the rights of others. Managing that carefully and fairly is part of creating a reasonable society.

Like pronouns. You can say what you want but you can't force everyone else to also say what you want - that gives you all the free speech and leaves none for everyone else. It's reasonable to compromise even if it's uncomfortable.

Interesting idea that men created sex segregated spaces in order to dominate women but really all public space was for men and women's spaces were incredibly curtailed. Feminists in the West spent a lot of time carving sex-segregated spaces out of male 'public space', just so that women could function outside their homes with reasonable safety. All sports were men's sports until women were allowed to compete in sports. All washrooms were men's washrooms because women should stay home. This situation still exists in many countries by the way. Personally, I very much like having a gender neutral or 'family' option added, but for security's sake I don't want women's spaces removed. We need those rules because men prey on women and girls. Until that changes, women's security is important.

"Like Transfeminists wants to ban these kind of spaces for gender neutral ones...." What I hear is... men... want to ban women-only spaces for spaces they can access? Well, no, I'm not going to support that. Women's right to safety wins out.

Regarding government support - well if no government ever supported you I guess you've got nothing to worry about in the current climate, since nothing has changed.

And lastly, that picture is kinda true. Except you dudes are the KKK in this picture and I see you just can't compromise.

Letter from a radical feminist to trans people

Feminists have tried to sound the alarm about trans overreach and how it harms women, and we've been attacked and ignored by the left as a result. However, the issue leaked into the broader society and normies - who are only vaguely aware of these issues - have turned to conservatives to lead the push back. However, conservatives are not opposed to gender ideology, they just have their own version and want to impose it on everyone.

Feminists stand against gender ideology of both stripes.

Protecting women's rights is important, and sex-based segregation in places like prisons, washrooms and change rooms is vital for women's protection.

Protecting women and girls participating in female only sports is necessary and fair.

Banning trans people from the military is unacceptable discrimination. Some military units are sex-segregated (sometimes just in the barracks and in training at other times), but your gender identity doesn't affect your ability to serve your country. Your sex-segregated unit can handle a little more diversity in the ranks.

Forcing people to wear uniforms based on their sex is sex-based discrimination. If there are optional uniforms available, they should be available to everyone.

If someone wants to legally change their name, that's their right.

If an adult wants to medically alter their bodies and can find a doctor to do so, that's their right.

If someone wants to add a notation that they are trans to their ID, that's their right - because your ID is meant to help people identify you accurately.

If someone wants to ask people to use specific pronouns, that's their right too. If other people decline to do so, that's also their right.

Government agencies don't need to enforce gender ideology - not the trans version or the conservative version. Government needs to protect the rights of women and of minorities and let society function in all its chaotic diversity.

The secret to a civil society isn't about getting everyone to agree with each other, it's about learning how to get along when you disagree.

Gender identity is no different than any other religion - it doesn't matter if we personally agree with it, we should still defend it against government overreach.

I know this is a tricky conversation to have, but I couldn't let this go unsaid.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

among the boundless billions zaniness like laugh track as it definitely has that moment of expressing "rolling my eyes as The Left makes a kerfuffle of Acting like they have a stance as a veneer over the true belief that [xyz] is cool & chill actually" like what, approximate 0.000% chance wendy isn't, as usual, given the Objective Stance of "yeah yeah ohh we are cancelling involved parties talking about how we Don't watch this But. we all love this damn epic movie & already have it memorized so shut the fuck up, kids today" like. don't wanna really delve into how much billions thinks taylor or anyone is "really" trans / nonbinary like not too much benefit of the doubt in this material including what does provide info abt that specifically

& the general like [head in hands. what do you think any of this could possibly be about (you're the one that made your show at all about Power)] of "yes, it's bad/wrong to be someone that someone has done something to / victim of something" like that to be anti misogyny All Women Must Be Epic Winners b/c there's something to be proved: that they don't Deserve to be victims (of misogyny), not taken as a Given. while when we see some epic winner men stepping on other men (who need not all be guaranteed Winners so as to say misogyny is wrong), that's often Good, well beyond any assumption that various forms of basic disrespect / violation / patterns of emergent/entrenched power difference as Bad (for being things done to people, not for there being people they're being done to), & generally billions has to take an extra step when ppl get shitted on & tell us the Specific Cases when it was undeserved actually & someone was being mean to a specific person who didn't deserve that. & the specific cases when hey guess it wasn't that bad(tm) or when hey It's Okay that you're someone something was done to, in this case. & tell us what we were supposed to know all along like when someone who something was being done to (wrong Of Them, whether b/c they inherently deserve it no matter what, &/or b/c they failed to be someone who could make it Impossible to do anything to them, which, how do you do that besides being The Authority / Superior yourself, exactly? nonrhetorically? what if the in group vs out group / fascism / authoritarianism protected Me?) was actually being treated Too Well b/c ah well the abuse meant you were getting any attention, maybe it meant you were claimed as any superior's property, maybe it meant you weren't Already disposed of, as all Losers were in the end, You're Welcome.

obviously referring to winston where it's spelled out all the abuse towards him was deserved, & More than he deserved in the case of rian having more access & taking advantage of that, all for billions' enjoying its own sendoff there of, again, maximizing violation & violence short of [real violence is physical & leaves bruises / draws blood / Literally kills] which would be distasteful in general But doesn't it make wags look like the winner & winston the loser is that the former's completely unrelated completely impersonal ego blow gets way amplified taken out on winston, the most vulnerable recurring character when spyros as [first & ultimate Everyone Hates Him role] is more entrenched in there & billions still magnanimously pities tuk, as it does winston too, just not quite as much. again that like completely surface level realized power fantasy of forcing the mirror up to the Inferior so they're like nooo my inferiorityyyy & in doing so like, the projection in that lmao, we get it re: the valuing of & need(tm) for such Power Tripping & Reaffirming My Superiority & My Ego Restored; Everyone Claps like good god. & then for all ben & tuk are the slightly softer Two Too Nice Boys duo to the rian & winston quant duo, also like too nice i guess but not as much, ben is in charge of tuk but Any instance of rian being in charge of winston outstrips them in that "yay interpersonal abuse" dynamic, like then in the end billions may be like "yeah it's possible to be mean to them unlike how being mean to winston is actually Nice b/c he deserves everything he gets, we only vicariously enjoy it vs Feeling Bad for tuk & ben sometimes (still magnanimously & it's Not That Bad / just goofin)" like ben & tuk still Fail by not being people it's impossible to do anything to. & not Exceptions who anyone is really being Too Mean to. like if they were women, in which case, no problem surely with a "positive" kind of victim blaming where there is something Inherent that Will be victimized so hey how about to cancel that out there's this special Paternal Protection you Need always, Or Else? :) but instead they are men who are asian & is ben gay & w/tuk & winston nobody mentions glasses or fatness but billions doesn't really do much or very in depth textual mentioning of Anything, even w/nonzero mention that there may be gender & race in this world. a gay man, once. no disability. we just Know who are the inferiors who deserve it when they're treated inferiorly, or if they don't, they start deserving it when they fail to stop/avoid it, but if you start mentioning the factors behind who we all totally agree is inferior like whoa nobody was Saying any of that? being the real agent of oppression on the basis of the factors only You spelled out, much? nonbinary? i never say anything about the Gender Binary when i'm subscribing to it, sounds like You've created & enforced it. obfuscation & deflection onto [so Just Normal nobody has to label, explain, or argue it] couldn't serve a purpose & protect the existing power differences as they are. maybe You're the problem? perhaps you brought it upon yourself & now you're causing too much trouble standing up for yourself while everyone else's criticism is laser focused on you as the prior & continuing negative actions done to you are taken as a given / unquestioned / covertly protected to overtly encouraged?

anyway so wild if the Completely Normal(tm) Victim Blaming is uncritically recreated & oft embraced for "if you're watching this & don't wish you were axe / find him appealing" [billions as a sequence of vicarious power trips] purposes in this series....but a bit wild considering like this is your multiseason show that wasn't just purporting to be those power trips for [enough demographic & apparently specific personal tastes overlap w/creators] & was at all purporting to question the matters of power at play in the material, or yknow, at least to not be completely superficial material while said material is textually & thematically all about power difference being leveraged, how, the consequences, & so on. thus i will have to intermittently talk about it forever like this like lord unbelievable. & the funny little & sometimes less funny less little characters it has trapped in there so that those of us who were never meant to be in the audience can be cursed with this knowledge. like i have some feedback. "imagine not victim blaming" & "imagine adjusting your perspective can go beyond superficial layers added to politely defer to some other ppl while they're present but really like cmon do they deserve that. am i not just saying what we're allll thinking"

[thewirewitch]

I remember in one of my dreams last night I was buying bottled drinks to put in a timing-based arcade machine which I then played to get the drinks out, which took tokens that I also had to buy.

...

...stonks.

[medicinemane]

At least even when I was a teenager and identified as communist, I was still never a soviet apologist

(And as I got older I came to dislike the USSR more and more and more, also seeing that soviet apologism kinda tended to fuck things up for western communists cause they'd be so busy running defense for people who didn't like or care about them, that actually getting policies passed to help western workers came second to being a tankie)

(Straight up, while I was volunteering in Quebec, one of the people I stayed with had this book by her uncle about being a Canadian communist, and he basically pinned soviet apologism as the whole reason he left the party cause they were more interested is doing PR for the kremlin than they were interested in like... unionizing in Canada)

Anyway, tankies suck, soviet apologism suck, and I'm glad to be able to say that even when I was a communist I didn't fall into that trap... like thank fuck for that, you know?

[cellaspider]

sorry is it centrist to not like actual bigotry? It's okay to hate america the country and it's political system and politicians. It's okay to be angry at the americans who did nothing about what has been happening. It's not okay to hate all americans for being american. It's not okay to hate a group of people because of their nationality. That's what fascists do. Also you did hurt my delicate centrist feelings. I think that the current status quo isn't working and we should adopt a more egalitarian social and economic system. But I don't think all americans are subhuman filth unworthy of respect because they have a shitty government. Because I have no feet to stand on. I haven't done jack shit to resist the american government and you haven't done anything to resist the american government. You need to get off your high horse and learn how to respect human beings, and while you're at it, learn about all the different ways americans are working to resist their current administration. Even people with shitty politics.

What have you done again? Were you perhaps standing there with a gun helping to drive out neonazis? protesting trump's illegal and dangerous, sometimes orwellian moves? Or perhaps you brought a legal case against one of his executive orders? Took out a newspaper ad in opposition to his genocidal ethnic cleansing plan? Quit your job rather than carry out his bidding, an ineffectual, if not symbolic move? Wait no, this is you.

"hahaha. God. Imagine being THIS fucking gay? (homophobia) Such a bottom. I'm sure this retard (ableism) followed his bully around and got him things for free. You can just slap an American (generalizing an entire population.) in the face. They love daddy. Daddy doesn't love them. But they abuse they need is what counts. Like, imagine doing what this fat (fatphobia) retard (ableism) did and thinks it accomplishes anything other than to make him look like the biggest victim in the world. Fuck. This is so fucking funny. IMAGINE BEING THIS MUCH OF A PREDICTABLE LOSER. I'm glad their schools are getting closed down (wishing ill on children???), really seems like a waste of effort, just feed them into the grinder"

Notice how all you seem to do is be bigoted towards people doing bigoted praxis. Better than doing bigoted things, but still. If instead of alienating most people, you just used regular insults... call them assholes and malicious, or use a descriptive one, nazis. The gestapo. You also seem to assume all americans are like this? But assuming you clicked all the links I provided, they aren't. They do more than you. You hold no moral high ground. You cannot say they are subhuman without yourself being subhuman. You seem to have a superiority complex without anything to back it up. You call americans all evil without doing anything to help, and while continuing the use of bigoted language, like using gay as an insult. Which normalizes homophobia. You also seem to overuse "delicate centrist feelings" while being for all intents and purposes a centrist who claims superiority over the barbaric americans while actually seeming to agree with a lot of their points. All people are bad people one way or another with few exceptions. We all have our flaws. This isn't uniquely american. Some people are worse than others. Some are you (bad). Some are me (less bad). Some are people who call ICE (much worse than you). You also claim americans are "vessels for rich and powerful Men to do what they're told. Pathetic. Sad. Like rabid animals." which is true of some. But its also true of many europeans, and africans, and people from all countries. I doubt rich people love luigi mangione as much as some americans, for example.

Heres another quote from you

"No American wants to help. No American will ever help you. They just need an excuse to do nothing and they'll KILL YOU to keep themselves innocent."

Heres a list of places where americans help each other

This is the website of the organization the US government used to use to help people.

Here's another american founded organization dedicated to ending all sorts of societal problems.

Clearly you do no research. You seem to just dehumanize an entire nationality based off the actions of a bigoted crowd of them which is large, but can be referred to without conflating them with all americans.

"REtards out in full force. Imagine being upset someone threw up a nazi salute, unleashed jack booted thugs to raid people's houses and then sold the country out for parts. Imagine, like, having core values that don't revolve around doing what you're told. Imagine, like, being held accountable for your actions. Imagine alllllll of those things happened, and more, including midnight arrests of political opposition, A South afrikaan warlord stealing all your personal information, and the opening of a concentration camp and the ONLY thing the faggots come up with is:"

Americans literally are upset about all of these things? Are you daft? Do you not keep up with any americans online? These are all opposed by many americans. The problem is you don't just talk about that. You imply they all agree with that. Lets use israel as another example. A country doing genocide. Saying that "jews aren't people" is antisemitic. Hell, saying "Israelis aren't people" is still antisemitic. It's conflating a people with a government. If you say "All jews are barbaric violent monsters and unworthy of life" thats nazi shit. Idgaf what their government is doing, thats bigoted. A people is not the government. People agreeing with the government is one thing but a people isn't a monolith.

"Ooooooh. Is the fat yank screaming for genocide gotten bis little feelings hurt? Ooooooh. Little snowflake all big mad and big hurrrrrrrt? You gonna run to your daddy? Faggot? You gonna go cry to your big man daddy to make all the mean people go away? Little butt hurt baby?"

You never denied that you're homophobic. What do you disagree with about trump? It sounds like you're a bigoted fascist who wants to do genocide honestly. You seem to want all americans to die. Which isn't much different than the "barbaric" americans you seem to hate so much want. You sound barbaic. It sounds like you might fall into your definition of subhuman. So put up or shut up. justify your bigotry or delete your account, fucking coward.

Americans when you ask them to do anything productive as nazis overtake their shitty country.

Gotta love em. They're all bad people. One way or the other. But they get sooooooooooooooooooooo mad when you call them out. They're so retarded they never take the easy answer. They never just admit there's a problem. They ALWAYS let their true colors show.

No American wants to help. No American will ever help you. They just need an excuse to do nothing and they'll KILL YOU to keep themselves innocent.

[thehmn]

Never underestimate the power of subtle body language to help those around you without causing a scene.

I use “stepping in front of insensitive/nosey assholes to block their view of a person they’re starring at” a lot. No words exchanged. Just getting between them (sometimes while starring back at them if they’re being extra weird) and they always seem to either realize what they’re doing or be jolted out of it. Either way it has never ended in a confrontation, just silent looks.

A kinda weird use of body language happened some time ago while I was standing at a bus stop near a train station. Right next to me stood a very short woman who I guessed to be from India based on her looks and dress, and around us were nothing but men. I’m very standard height for a Scandinavian woman so I’ve never felt short or tall in any group, but she looked tiny next to all these men packed tightly around us. I’m not sure why but I felt like she was uncomfortable with all these men towering over her and for some reason my response to that was to subtly change my stance so my front faced her a bit more. Not full on, but the way most friends stand next to each other, while still looking away from her. I don’t know why I thought that would be comforting to her because it could just as easily have come off as threatening, but after a few seconds she moved a bit closer to me. And then a bit closer. And then slightly closer. All without anyone else in the group moving. We stood like that until the bus arrived and then we went to separate seats.

So never be afraid to silently signal to strangers that you’re on their side or that they can fuck right off. People tend to respond better to that than words in my experience unless they’re already looking for a fight.

[drdemonprince]

The conversations about accountability & apologies that we've been having in social justice circles these last few years have basically trained everybody to fawn.

We've been telling people that if they are accused of any wrongdoing or of hurting anybody's feelings, it is their obligation to apologize immediately, and never to hedge, disagree, or to explain their rationale what they've done.

In their apology, we expect them to articulate every single thing that they have done that was damaging in the strongest language possible and to declare outright that they have harmed someone, often multiple groups of people, even if they are not sure of the impact (or could not even possibly be sure).

If a person's apology is anything but immediate and entirely self-excoriating, we accuse the person of downplaying the damage they have done, failing to be accountable, and manipulating others.

In this way, we've made it impossible for a person to ever take their own side lest that be taken itself as a form of wrongdoing. We have trained our fellow social-justice-minded people to believe that if they do anything but worsen the case against themselves, they are being irresponsible.

I say we, in all of this, because I have partaken in all of this rhetoric, made these kinds of criticism, given accused people this type of advice.

And I have followed it myself, often to a damaging effect.

I have taken responsibility for problems in which I truly did not believe I played a part, I've overstated the damage that I've done so as not to risk understating it, I've ascribed malice to my intentions when I knew it wasn't there, I've agreed with people's most negative, bad-faith narratives about conflicts involving me that they were not even present for, offered up information about myself that was not a third party's business in the name of transparency, apologized for things I haven't done -- and in doing all of this, I have denied my loved ones the opportunity to really hear me about what I was going through and my motivations when I was in conflict with them, things that any true friend or close associate would obviously want to hear about if they cared about me.

This aim of giving the perfect apology and taking perfect accountability has been nothing but an isolating force in my life, because it has barred me from openly entering into necessary conflict with people when our needs were incompatible or they had hurt me just as much as I'd hurt them. The fear of being a manipulative, unaccountable DARVO-er has led me to roll onto my back and expose my belly, falling over myself with panicked apologies and the most unflattering information possible cast in the least explicable light, almost outright begging for others to become angrier at me and believing that it was only way I could ever possibly be accepted back.

We've drilled into people that the way to be good and responsible is to allow people to view us as negatively as possible, to even arm others with information that will confirm that point of view, and to never insert our own perspective or needs on the matter at all.

And yeah, there are a lot of shitty people out there who dodge accountability easily because their power ensconces them from any consequences. but the primary problem with that was never that they wrote a shitty notesapp apology that used the unforgivable phrase "I am sorry if you felt XYZ." The real problem was that there was no community that held enough influence to hold them to account, and for their victims there weren't ever adequate supports or protections.

instead of addressing any of that in a remotely systematic way, we have taken to picking apart every accused person's every word and deed for evidence of inner moral failure and created a culture in which we think we can determine a person's safety by how artfully they put words together when they are under threat. and what do you know, plenty of bad faith actors and conflict avoidant cowards and people who just dont understand what they are even being accused of can do that just fine.

[darksonofsparda]

Taking a careful and more calculated look at the area around them, he spots the trail of blood, as Naoto began to do her thing and investigate, he quickly followed, allowing Naoto to lead the way they were going, but he had made sure to be the taking point, gripping the handle of his blade tightly at his hip, ready to draw the exact second he needed should they run into any demons along the way as they followed this trail of blood, Vergil made sure there would be no surprise guests appearing as they were following this bloody trail.

As the duo passed through the building's alleyway, seeing exactly where this growing trail of fresh blood would lead them. After a few more minutes of tracking this dragging trail, the blood trail comes to an abrupt stop in front of a door that was obviously barricaded, it looks like whoever had been here, had done all they could to try and procure their survival.

Whatever the case here was, these people had put up one hell of a fight -- humankind always did their best to rise above, he only hoped the people here were smart and made all the right decisions, humans were capable of survival, it all just depended on what they did to maintain their lives, if all the wrong choices were made, then they were as good as dead.

The second both of them are at the door, Vergil can immediately feel waves of demonic energy behind this barricaded door, which means the demons had somehow managed to get in. The question now was, how exactly did they get in? This door was still blocked so the demons had likely managed to get through another way, but where exactly had their way in been? Something they would have to determine once they secured their own way inside.

[{ 🗡️ }] - "I can answer that. Behind this door, I can feel multiple waves of demonic energy, but while there is a lot, they are all weak. They shouldn't be an issue, but stay close and don't let them swarm you once we enter."

When she asks if he can slice the door, he nods, this blade wasn't just any ordinary blade, the Yamato was his signature devil arm, a keepsake moment from his late father, Sparda.

[{ 🗡️ }] - "Yes, this isn't a normal blade after all, my late father forged it, this sword can slice through anything, even time and space itself, so a door is nothing. But when I open it, they will come rushing at us, get ready."

With his warning, Vergil nods letting her know he's about to do it. Taking a deep breath, he used his thumb to push his blade up by the hilt from the scabbard, drawing his blade, with moves quicker than the human eye could follow, all Naoto would see, was a very brief flash of silver, several sliced cuts bundled together.

The slice opens the door, the pieces of the door and the barricaded objects are sliced clean through as if it were a hot knife cutting through a block of butter. The minute door frame is cleared, the two spot a large group of Hell Caina, formerly known as Hell Scythe's, they were low-leveled demon grunts so not too much of a real threat.

[{ 🗡️ }] - "Here they come, make haste."

He warned as the Hell Caina shrieked at the sight of the two, before the group of them began to charge directly at them, swiftly drawing the Yamato, Vergil zipped inside after them, unleashing a series of really quick cuts as he speed right through the group, leaving powered rapid slashes in his wake, a mess of blood and blue flashes of energy fill the room often as Vergil made his attack, Vergil seemed to be the prime target of the majority of the group except three who had spotted Naoto and were preparing to go at her with a swing of their scythes.

That made sense. One couldn’t teleport to a place they didn’t know existed. With Vergil’s superhuman speed, it would resemble teleportation from Naoto’s point of view. It would be a convenient power to have within the TV World. A wide array of skills, yet no one had the capability to teleport the others to the lobby. The case was concluded, so it would see no use now.

There was something within his words that Naoto couldn’t put a finger on. It was easy to say, but few conveyed  weight. Everyone had their own burdens, so she didn’t think about digging too deeply. They had a mission of utmost importance to accomplish. And it started the moment she felt a pressure pushing her back. The surroundings rushed by in a blur, she was unable to tell where buildings ended and began and so many other things.

Before she knew it, he had stopped. Naoto stepped down, a hand reaching for the top of her head. Miraculously, her hat was still there. The relief didn’t last long because her world was just black fog. She turned her head, mind yet to catch up. This was the train station, but it was the opposite of welcoming. Eerie silence, cracks on the walls.

It was like November and December but much, much worse.

How could this happen so fast? Were the monsters in Okina decoys to keep them distracted? Or was it a pincer attack?

“Right...”

She was no stranger to the scent of iron and gunpowder, even death, but this was much more than what the typical homicide aftermath contained. Overwhelming, suffocating, but she needed to press on. The first clue were the splatters. They were fresh compared to the ones she had noted earlier. “This way.”

As she tracked them down—ignoring how they were redder and redder with every three meters they walked—she stayed close to Vergil. The splatters finally stopped at a door. She jostled the knob, but the door wouldn’t budge. Had survivors barricaded themselves inside, or was it a trap? Naoto wanted to shout, but it would give away their position.

“Survivors or monsters, something is in here. You could cut down the door, right? Your slashes are precise, so I believe it would be an easy feat for you.”